P5B ethanol plant
to rise in Murcia
BY CARLA GOMEZ

An ethanol plant, projected to cost between P3 to P5 billion, will be built in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental soon under a joint venture agreement between Biofuels International Phils. Inc. and a group of foreign investors, BIPI president Roberto Montelibano said yesterday.

The plant that will be bigger than the San Carlos Bionergy Inc. plant recently inaugurated in San Carlos City , will be built within a 45-hectare property to be developed into an industrial zone, Montelibano, who is also president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.

BIPI is composed of a group of sugar farmers, businessmen and professionals, and is now in the final stages of concluding the agreement with foreign investors, he said.

About 1,000 policemen will be fielded starting today to secure President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her two-day visit to Negros Occidental, Chief Inspector   Rico Santotome Jr. said yesterday.

The president is scheduled to arrive at the Bacolod-Silay Airport late this afternoon and immediately fly to southern Negros Occidental.

Tomorrow morning she is expected to attend a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office medical mission at the Yulo Sports and Cultural Center in Binalbagan, and inaugurate bridges in Binalbagan and Hinigaran.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the falsification case filed against him and the late City Legal Officer Allan Zamora was clearly a form of political harassment and done for propaganda purposes.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas has dismissed for lack of merit the criminal and administrative complaints for grave misconduct and falsification of public documents filed by media practitioner Ely de los Santos against Leonardia and Zamora .

Also cleared was notary public Quirino Bat-og, a retired Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Negros Occidental, because there was no finding of prima facie evidence against them, the Ombudsman resolution stated.